A Veteran of the Second World War, Mr. John Ford enlisted in the Royal Air Force in May 1940. He fought in the Battle of Britain and, in 1941, he was posted to Singapore. The following year, he was taken a Prisoner of War and in 1945, after nearly four years of captivity, he was a witness to the destruction of Nagasaki by the atomic bomb. Mr. Ford has served as President of the Mount Pearl Park/Glendale Branch of The Royal Canadian Legion and he was awarded the prestigious Palm Leaf to the Meritorious Service Award in 1994. Mr. Ford also served as Chairman of the Honours Committee and he was Chairman of the Newfoundland and Labrador Command for two years. Mr. Ford has further contributed to his community by serving on the Board of Parkdale Manor and the Caribou Legion Manor. Mr. Ford is committed to passing the torch of remembrance and, during Veterans’ Week, he has spent countless hours speaking to students in the Avalon Peninsula area about the contribution of Canada’s War Veterans. In recognition of his longstanding dedication to their care and well-being and his ongoing commitment to remembrance, Mr. Ford is considered to be a champion for Veterans.